Tag Archives: delays

Update: 07:40GMT Looking on flight radar the skies over Spain are dotted with mostly ryanair and easyJet flights and lots of them too! many seem to be pretty much on-time so far. Good news for those flying today.

Update 07:45 ryanair are showing no cancelled flights from the UK to Alicante, looking at those due to arrive in Alicante before noon local time, none are cancelled so far check here

Update 07:58easyJet are also showing no cancelled flights from the UK to Alicante, looking at those due to arrive in Alicante before noon local time, none are cancelled so far so again great news if you are flying today. Check here

Update 09:40IMPORTANT TRANSFERS DELAYSPassengers who have booked a shared shuttle transfer should note that they will be required to wait several hours at the airport as the movement of coaches in and out of the airport is severely restricted by picket-lines between the hours of 10:30am and 3pm and 5pm and 10pm local time. Whilst you may see your coach at the airport it will not be able to leave outside of the restricted hours. Staff are trying their best to help, please be nice to them it is not their fault. TAXIS are running as usual therefore you are advised to make your way to your resort by taxi if you do not wish to wait for a shuttle. Taxis to Benidorm cost approximately 80€

Update 09:55DISEMBARKING/BOARDING & LUGGAGE DELAYS We have been informed that there are only a minimum of essential staff working at Alicante airport, therefore you may have to wait some time when arriving to disembark your aircraft and collect your luggage.

Update 12:00From Facebook via someone not striking who is working at Alicante Transfer Desks – (Please be nice to the staff if you are delayed they are not blame – they are NOT the ones who are on strike)

“National strike in spain. Im at alicante airport working. The unions will not let the buses leave the airport to take customers to their hotels until 12.30. Customers have to wait because of something which is out of all of our hands. Attitude of many of the customers is.”how dare these drivers be on strike til 12.30 and make us wait”. The people who have bothered to go work today.. To keep the country running and to support the tourism industry, pretty much the only industry this country has, are the ones perceived to be on strike by the customers and the ones responsible for the big chunk they have lost from their holidays!” Staff you see at the airport are trying to help and are working long hours to get people to and from hotels, they are not to blame for the delays.

March 29th will see widespread travel delays within Spain for Bus, Airport Transfers, Coaches and Train travel. Passengers arriving or departing from Alicante, Murcia or Valencia airports and across Europe can expect severe disruption and /or cancelled flights to or from Spanish airports. As most staff are expected to walk out for the 24 hour general strike from 00:01 on the 29th, most airports expect picket lines which will restrict access and movement in and around airports to commerical and public vehicles.

An agreement in force should mean that up to 20% of flights arrive and depart from European countries, however at this stage it is unknown which airlines will have to cancel their flights or which routes will be affected most. Indeed some low cost carriers may decide to pull all flights rather than be left with aircraft grounded at Spanish airports. Update as of 09:00 today 29th NO Alicante flights from the UK have yet been cancelled.

Update Note:The situation is very fluid with things changing from hour to hour. Transfer companies, travel agents and on the ground staff are doing their best to accomodate passengers within the restrictions and uncertainty that they have been given by airport authorities, the police and unions. Their first priority is the safety of passengers, drivers, and vehicles. Your understanding and patience will be hugely appreciated over the period of industrial action. Please be nice to the staff on the telephone or in person, they really are doing the best they can during a situation that is totally out of their control.

IF YOUR FLIGHT IS DEPARTING FROM ALICANTE ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO CHECK-IN AND CLEAR SECURITY AS MINIMUM STAFF WILL BE WORKING

Easyjet have already cancelled most of their internal flights and flights in and out of Madrid and Barcelona. Flights that are cancelled are being listed on the easyJet flight checker.

Ryanair have also now been forced to cancel most internal flights and some flights departing from the UK, at the time of writing this did not include Alicante flights a situation that may change at any time. For the latest information go to the ryanair strike cancellation page.

Jet2 until they know otherwise are operating a normal service in and out of Spain, however some flights are of courtse expected to be delayed and some may still be cancelled for up to date information passengers should go to the Jet2 Flight Status page.

Monarch are likewise in the dark and are waiting to see how things pan out on the day passengers should at the time of writing check in as usual until such time as there is any other news. For up to date information regarding flight delays and possibel cancelled flights Monarch have a dedicated strike latest info link on theirMonarch Holidayspage.

Thomson are stating that passengers traveling to Alicante can expect delays but as yet flights have not been cancelled. Passengers are being advised to check the website for up to date information on the day of the strike on March 29th. Thomson websitehas a “Travel Alert” link.

Iberia – Iberia Express – Iberia Regional (Air Nostrum) and Air Europa have cancelled so far about 70% of all their flights almost 500 in total including most Alicante flights.

AIPORT TRANSFERS DELAYS EXPECTED Transfer passengers who are returning on flights from Alicante or Murcia airports should ensure that they are ready in plenty of time and those who are returing to the airport either by coach shuttle or pirvate taxi should contact their transfer provider as soon as possible to confirm a revised time for your pick-up in the resort.

Please Note: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR TRANSFER COMPANIES TO TAKE ANY NEW BOOKINGS FOR TRANSFERS FOR THE 29th

You may be required to be collected much earlier than usual as picket lines will be in force at Alicante airport which is restricting access to the drop off points at the airport. You MUST wait at the agreed time for collection and should expect some delay being picked-up as there will be many more passengers than usual being collected in a short period of time. Passengers may have to be picked-up several hours earlier than usual as access is restricted to certain times by pickets at the airport. Your transport company will be able to advise you.

PASSENGERS ARRIVING in Alicante or Murcia airport may have to wait up to 3 or 4 hours for a transfer depending on their time of arrival as restrictions are also expected to be in place restricting the departure of coaches, taxis and private vehicles.

ALICANTE AIRPORT INFORMATION The official website for Alicante airport can be accessed here in Englishwhere you can check on any delays or cancelled flights.

MURCIA AIRPORT INFORMATION The official website for Murcai airport can be accessed here in Englishwhere you can check on any delays or cancelled flights.

VALENCIA AIRPORT INFORMATION The official website for Valencia airport can be accessed here in Englishwhere you can check on any delays or cancelled flights.

ALSA AIRPORT BUS There may be severe delays and a possibility of some cancellations and/or restircted timetable to and from the airport on March 29th. You are advised to use an earlier Bus or rank Taxi to enure you can get to the airport on time.

COMPENSATION FOR CANCELLED FLIGHTS Other than a full refund or a new booking on an alternative flight do not expect any compensation or supply of accommodation on “flight only” reservations as airlines are not required to give any compensation when flights are delayed or cancelled due to industrial action. Those on an ATOL protected package holiday who are already in Spain should be offered accommodation if flights are cancelled. Check with your airline or travel agent.